11/25/2018

December 2018 "Wet Paint" Newsletter and Calendar of Classes

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Each morning brings a new day. I look forward with gleeful anticipation to see what this new day brings, ever looking onward and upward... until December 1.

For some reason, this time of years lends itself to reflections and remembrance, to reliving a time that is no more, wistfully pining to play with toys that no longer exist, to hug friends and family who are no longer with us. I spend December reliving and recreating Christmases Past as much as creating Christmas Present.

In December I crave the taste of Sausage Cheese Balls. This was a staple at every Christmas party I attended for the first 20 years of my life. And Egg Nog. Yum!

I heart skips a beat when I learn The Grinch is about to come on TV. And Rudolph. And Santa Clause is Coming to Town. Does anyone else even remember The Homecoming which inspired the TV show The Waltons?

And I want to smell the aromas of freshly cut pine (though I'm terribly allergic to it!) and the orange spice of hot Christmas tea. And little cakes baked by a light bulb in an Easy-Bake oven.

Professionally December is the busiest month of the year for this artist. Enough free time doesn't exist to do everything I want to do before the end of the year, so I thought I would make a list and check it twice... my Christmas Bucket List.

7. Make homemade marshmallows. (I've never done this one before, but have always wanted to)

8. Go ice skating.

9, Read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

10. String Popcorn Garland for the Tree and make a God's Eye with yarn.

11. Roast Chestnuts in the oven. (There are two Chestnut trees near my house.)

12. Hang Stockings on the mantle.

13. Make homemade Boiled Custard and play the Hallmark Christmas Movie drinking game.

14. Attend a showing of It's a Wonderful Life at the Franklin Theater with special guest Donna Reed's daughter.

15. See the live version of White Christmas at TPAC.

16. Attend Christmas Eve service at church. (Maury Hills in Columbia at 6pm, if you want to join me!)

17. Attend the Maury Christmas Candlelight Tour of Historic Homes.

18. Donate a Toy to my friend Christy Gillis' toy drive for folks who lost everything in the Florida panhandle hurricane earlier this year. (Simply purchase a toy online and have it shipped to Blackbird Contracting, 2045 Doomar Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32308)

19. See the special Christmas Art exhibits at Square Market Cafe (Columbia) and Juice Bar (Spring Hill) and any other art exhibits celebrating the season of love and giving.

20. Kiss someone under the mistletoe.

21. Stick a candy cane in a lemon and sip out the lemonade.

22. Go to a Christmas Party and bring sausage cheese balls.

23. Send out Christmas cards.

24. Go to the mall and watch kids get their picture taken with Santa.

25. Maybe send my cousin a new blue cowgirl hat.

If you would like to make sausage balls the recipe is easy.

Sausage Balls

1 pound bulk pork sausage 2 cups Bisquick

1 pound shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Place all ingredients into a large bowl and mix with your hands. You probably won't incorporate all the Bisquick into the mixture, and that is ok. Don't force it. Overworking the mixture will make tough Sausage Balls. You don't want that.

Roll into balls the size of a large marble and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 350* for 20-25 minutes until browned and sausage completely cooked.

Double the recipe and freeze a batch for later. Great to pull out and prepare for unexpected guests.

Christmas Spiced Tea

1 cup Tang orange drink 1 cup Sugar

1 cup dry Lemonade mix 3 Teaspoons Cinnamon

1 cup Instant Tea 1 Teaspoon Ground Cloves

Mix well. Store in festive jars and tie a ribbon on for a homemade gift. To make tea, simply add 2 spoonfuls to a cup and add hot water from the kettle.

Join us for Painting with Susan and attend painting classes offered in acrylics, oils and watercolors at our Winchester location in Spring Hill. Learn a new skill, have some fun, make new friends, and create a colorful legacy!

Beginners are welcomed. No need to have any painting experience. I want to help every student discover his or her inner artist and learn to enjoy the process of painting

Whether you choose a one-time class or the on-going weekly lessons, I'll guide you through the steps to create a painting you'll be proud of. Anyone can paint. All it takes is a knowledgeable teacher with a heart for students and a little practice. You'll get both in any of my classes.

Painting classes are offered in the lower level of the Winchester Building located at 563 Maury Hill Street behind Spring Hill Elementary in Evan's Park. Please call 615-668-8263 to register or for additional information.

1. CREATIVE SPIRITS CLASS inOILS

Creative Spirits painting classes meet one day each week and cover a new topic every month. In December, we'll study the Colorist Approach to painting using traditional TRANSPARENT oils. This approach creates delightful, colorful paintings that are sure to charm.

Class meets at 10am on Thursday morning and meets 4 times each month. Class lasts about an hour and a half. We will meet December 6, 13, 20, and January 3. We will not meet the week of Christmas, December 27.

In December we'll study the Colorist Approach using Transparent OILS.

In Creative Spirits class, students bring their own supplies (we'll be painting with traditional oils through February 2019. I have transparent oils for you to use in class, so that you don't need to purchase any), and a list is provided of items you'll need. Class fee is $99 per one month session (4 classes) and you can take one-, two-, three- or as many months as you like. And plan to join us for lunch! Most weeks we either go out to a local restaurant or plan a pot luck meal at the studio.

You have FUN AND CREATIVE FRIENDS you haven't even met yet!!

PLEASE NOTE:

We have entered a unit on "PAINTING WITH OILS." A Supplies list will be provided. However, if you don't want to invest in oils, I will provide basic oil colors for you, including transparent oils. You'll still need to bring your own canvas, brushes, paper towels, 2 glass jars with tight-fitting lids, and paint thinner (either Gamsol or Odorless Mineral Spirits).

UPCOMING CREATIVE SPIRITS ART DATE- December 14:

Creative Spirits students enjoy ART DATES every month or so, and we are scheduled to view the film At Eternity's Gate at the Belcourt Theatre on December 14. This is a film about the last days of Vincent van Gogh starring Willem Dafoe.

The movie times are not posted until the Monday prior to the film opening, so I don't have any details other than I hope we can choose a daytime showing and go to lunch together beforehand. Details will be posted on the Creative Spirits FB page as they become available.

2. PAINT-ALONG "MAKE & TAKE" CLASSES inWATERCOLOR

My darlin’ artists.... I'm so excited the watercolor classes have been well received and everyone painted beautifully!

The 1.5 - 2 hour class teaches the proper way to prepare your watercolor paper in preparation for painting and the "light to dark" process of using the white of the paper for your lights. Every student will leave with a lovely 5 x 7 original watercolor painting suitable for framing.

Please note: Students find it helpful to bring their phones or iPads to photograph the reference painting or pull it up on Facebook. Class size is limited so students will get more individualized attention.

December 13 at 6:00pm "Ornaments" (watercolor) $35, with all supplies included and 5 x 7 pre-sketched paper

3. PAINT-ALONG "MAKE & TAKE" CLASSES in Acrylics

November 29 at 6:00pm "Spruced with Sprig" (acrylics) $50, with all supplies included and 12 x 16 pre-sketched canvas

**Private Paint-Along Parties may be scheduled at your location with a minimum of 15 students. Great for Church Groups, Book Clubs, Reunions, Team Building for the office. All supplies and instruction are included for $50 per student. Please call 615-668-8263 for more information.

3. PRIVATE PAINTING LESSONS

Never painted before? Not sure which class is best for you? Want more individualized instruction? Scheduling a private lesson may be the choice for you.

Private lessons are offered by Spring Hill Parks and Rec and taught in the Winchester Studio. Students bring their own supplies and reference photo. You'll enjoy personal assessment of your work and specific instruction for improvement. Private Lesson fee is $99 for 2-hour lesson and may be shared with one other person as long as you both are painting the same reference material. OR $149 if two students are painting different paintings. For three or more students, fee is additional $50 each. Call 615-668-8263 to reserve your private lesson.

4. HOUSE PORTRAIT WORKSHOP NOVEMBER 28 at 10am

Come paint as special painting for yourself or someone you love. A House Portrait can be a truly personal and sentimental gift that will be cherished for a lifetime. And "House" simply means any structure that is important to you... your home, church, wedding venue, sorority house, or chicken coop. You can paint it yourself at the House Portrait Workshop scheduled for November 28 at 10am in the Winchester Facility, lower level, at 563 Maury Hill Street, in Evan's Park behind Spring Hill Elementary.

Workshop fee of $99 includes all supplies, plus your canvas will be pre-sketched with the basic shape of the building. To register, call 615-668-8263 and then email a clear photo of your House in good light to susan@susanejones.com at least one week before the workshop.

5. GIFT MAKING WORKSHOP DECEMBER 9 at 2pm

Do you want to creative a special gift to be cherished for a lifetime? Join me for the Gift Making Workshop and Open Studio on Sunday afternoon, December 9 at 2pm. Choose a Pet, House, Motor or Bridal Bouquet or anything else you want to paint, and you can paint it yourself with my help. I'll even pre-sketch the basic shape on the canvas for you providing you email the photo you want to paint to susan@susanejones.com at least one week before the workshop. We will paint in the Winchester Facility, lower level, at 563 Maury Hill Street, in Evan's Park behind Spring Hill Elementary.

Workshop fee of $99 includes all supplies, plus your 12 x 16 canvas will be pre-sketched with the basic shape. To register, call 615-668-8263 and then email a clear photo taken in good light to susan@susanejones.com and remember to bring that photo with you to the workshop to use for reference.

Although I do not profess to paint portraits of people, I have assisted students with colorful and impressionistic portraits of their own grandchildren.

6. CAR LOVE AND MOTOR SPORTS WORKSHOP DECEMBER 17 at 6pm

For the first time ever, I'm offering a workshop to paint your favorite Car, Truck, Bike, Boat, Train, Tractor or Plane. For many of us it was our first love. Whether you've ever owned it or not, many of us dream of a fully restored 1939 International pick-up Truck with a plat of red Geraniums in the back, an old hound dog in the front seat hanging its head out the window and driving down a country road with sunflower fields on either side wearing blue jeans and a straw hat. But I digress. For my dad, the dream involves a 1947 Piper J-3 Cub taildragger and a country airport with a grass strip runway.

Whatever steam-, gasoline- or wind-powered vehicle is in your dreams, you can paint a portrait of it at the Car Love and Motor Sports Workshop on December 17 at 6pm. All you need is a good photo to use as reference and a willingness to have a good time, follow instructions, and let the creativity flow.

Workshop fee of $99 includes all supplies, plus your 12 x 16 canvas will be pre-sketched with the basic shape. To register, call 615-668-8263 and then email a clear photo taken in good light to susan@susanejones.com and remember to bring that photo with you to the workshop to use for reference.

7. MINI-MONET CLASSES FOR YOUNG ARTISTS

Mini-Monet Painting Class for Young Artists ages 10-14 is an on-going painting class that meets on Thursday afternoons at 5pm. The Mini-Monet class will teach the basics to painting in Acrylics with a new topic covered each month. Students will bring their own supplies for this one hour class each week. A supplies list will be available to those who register and supplies can be purchased at Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, or Michael's.

The next session of classes begins December 6. In December we'll meet on December 6, 13, 20, and January 3. We will not meet the week of Christmas.

Class fee is $80/month (4 lessons). No prior experience is necessary, just a love of art and color and fun.

Call 615-668-8263 to reserve an easel for your young artist.

7. SANTA'S WORKSHOP

Each Christmas Spring Hill Parks and Rec offers Santa's Workshop for Kids to make presents for the ones they love at Christmas. Vendors and Instructors offer an array of classes from painting to building small wood crafts to blending perfume to making jewelry. The fee is $5 per craft or $20 for as many crafts as the child can make.

We'll be meeting in the Winchester Facility, lower level, at 563 Maury Hill Street, from 9am to noon. Candy and cookies will be served. We may even break out in song! Santa's Workshop is always a fun event.

I'm thrilled to announce the CREATIVE SPIRITS ART EXHIBIT at Square Market Cafe on the public square in downtown Columbia no through January 5. Make your plans to enjoy a delicious meal at one of my favorite restaurants in town and see their beautiful paintings!!

2. CHRISTMAS ART EXHIBIT AT THE JUICE BAR, SPRING HILL

Now through the Holidays, the Juice Bar- Spring Hill will be displaying my Christmas paintings, along with the works of watercolor painter Abigail Hardin. The Juice Bar is located in the historic Kissing House at 412 McLemore Ave in downtown Spring Hill (Maury County). Make your plans to visit for a fresh fruit smoothie ("Mint to Be" is my favorite) or one of their fresh daily soups and specialties and enjoy the beautiful art from local artists.

3. CHESTNUT GROUP ART SHOW at FT. HOUSTON GALLERY, NASHVILLE, TN

I'm so excited to be a member of the Chestnut Group of Plein Air painters and enjoy all the wonderful opportunities it provides. This December 1-29, Fort Houston Gallery will host an art exhibit of Chestnut Group members work at their location at 2020 Lindell Avenue in Nashville, just off I-65 and Wedgwood. I hope you will have an opportunity to stop by.

4. CHESTNUT GROUP ART SHOW at the PARTHENON, NASHVILLE, TN

Conservancy for the Parthenon and Centennial Park Show is scheduled for April 26-28, 2019, at the Parthenon in Centennial Park off West End Avenue in Nashville, TN.

5. CHESTNUT GROUP ART SHOW at RADNOR LAKE

The Chestnut Group partners with Radnor Lake every other year for good reason. It continues to be one of the biggest and most popular of the Chestnut Group shows. We will be painting there for the next year and the show will be in the autumn of 2019.

RECENT EVENTS

1. NOVEMBER ART DATE TO PARIS 1900 at the FRIST MUSEUM

A few Creative Spirits were able to meet for a day at the Frist Art Museum in Nashville to see the Paris 1900: City of Entertainment exhibit.

The Creative Spirits enjoyed their annual Holiday lunch and painting exchange at the Country Boy restaurant in Leipers Fork and then a visit to the Jason Saunders Open Studio. And this year we also added a visit to Robyn Barbers Tiny House.

3. PAINTING WITH THE SPECIAL FRIENDS AT MAURY HILLS CHURCH, COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE

Thank you Leesa Stephens at Maury Hill Church for the invitation to teach the talented artists of the Special Friends Class. We studied how Jesus was a carpenter, then made our own pencil boxes hammering nails into wood and painting the results. We had a blast!

SHOPS AND GALLERIES While on your many adventures, please stop by the shops and galleries that sell my work and tell them I sent you....

Photos of precious smiles I got to see while painting in the September Classes, Workshops, and Private Lessons.

NOVEMBER PAINTINGSThese paintings and many, many more are for sale through Daily Paintworks. If you are local and purchase a painting, please let me know so I can adjust the shipping fee. To see the paintings for sale, click here.

CLASS/WORKSHOP CANCELLATION POLICY

Class sizes are limited, so we ask you give us 48 hours notice if you need to cancel. Cancellations should be made by phone or text, 615-668-8263. This provides us the opportunity to fill the space. No refunds are available, however class fees for reservations canceled at least 48 hours in advance may be credited to another class.

For inclement weather, announcements on canceled classes will be posted on Facebook. If in doubt, please call us before traveling in bad weather. Canceled classes will be rescheduled.

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